What is it that EMPLOYERS really want?

Whether you’re a job-seeker or a recruiter, have you ever stopped to consider exactly WHY employers hire people?

I don’t mean why they might hire a particular candidate, but the overarching reason for hiring someone at all.

According to executive recruiter Sharon Mah-Gin, the answer is 3-fold, and is something that every job-seeker and recruiter should consider throughout the recruiting process.

Sharon Mah-Gin & Andrea Wojnicki

In the latest Talk About Talk episode, I was thrilled to welcome Sharon back to the podcast for the third time.

It’s always a pleasure to speak with her, and she always has great advice to share. (I count myself among the lucky recipients of her advice!)

In this episode you’ll learn:

The 3 REASONS why employers hire people
RESUME do’s and don’ts
Common job search MISTAKES

SO WHAT???

During my conversation with Sharon, she shared an insight that I think has the potential to revolutionize your job search process!

Are you ready for it?

Talk About Talk #107 - Communication Skills for Job-Seekers - quote on why employers hire candidates by Sharon Mah-Gin

That’s it. Companies hire people for 3 main reasons:

To make money 💵
To save money 💰
To solve an issue 👍

If you’re doing the recruiting, you might ask yourself: which one(s) of these 3 things am I looking for?

If you’re looking for a job, ask yourself HOW you can help your potential employer make money, save money, or solve an issue.

Then ask yourself if this is reflected in your resume. Go through your resume line-by-line. After each bullet point ask yourself these 2 little words ⬇️:

Talk About Talk #107 - Communication Skills for Job-Seekers - image of the words "so what?" written on a yellow post-it note

Image by IvelinRadkov from Getty Images/Canva

This is the time to be tough on yourself. Ensure that your resume (and your LinkedIn profile) demonstrates impact, and tells potential employers how you can help.

Otherwise, the employers will be the ones asking, “So what?”

Resume Do’s & Don’ts

Your resume is one of the most significant ways you communicate with potential employers.

In addition to applying the “So what?” lens to your resume, there are a number of things you can do to avoid common mistakes, and make your resume stand out.

Talk About Talk #107 - Communication Skills for Job-Seekers - image of a resume on a desk

Image by jakkapant turasen from Getty Images/Canva

➡️ DO use a chronological resume, which is much easier to read than a functional resume format.

➡️ DON’T waste words. Ensure that every word serves a purpose.

➡️ DO be concise. Limit your resume to two pages.

➡️ DO include key accomplishments, especially from the last five years.

➡️ DON’T be too wordy. The human brain can only process so much at once. When in doubt, default to the Power of 3.

That’s it for this week! Once again, thank you to Sharon Mah-Gin for being so generous with her time and insights. I learned a lot from our discussion, and I hope you will, too.

You can listen to this episode directly on the Talkabouttalk.com website just by clicking ▶️PLAY. Or you can find the podcast on any podcast app. Just search “Talk About Talk.”

Enjoy the podcast!

Please forward this email to your friends who might like help with their communication skills and job-seeking. Thank you.

Have a great week.

Talk soon,